Xeon E3-1585 v5 vs Core i7-3960X
Xeon E3-1585 v5
Core i7-3960X
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon E3-1585 v5 is positioned at rank 345 and the Core i7-3960X is on rank 1024, so the Xeon E3-1585 v5 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1585 v5
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3960X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1585 v5 | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-H (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1585 v5 | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E3-1585 v5 and Core i7-3960X
Xeon E3-1585 v5
The Xeon E3-1585 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L,LPDDR3 1600 MHz, DDR4 2133 MHz at 1.2V. Passmark benchmark score: 8,408 points. Launch price was $556.
Core i7-3960X
The Core i7-3960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,402 points. Launch price was $861.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1585 v5 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-3960X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-3960X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1585 v5 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3960X — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon E3-1585 v5 uses the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-3960X uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1585 v5 scores 8,408 against the Core i7-3960X's 8,402 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1585 v5. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1585 v5 vs 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1585 v5 | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+6% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 15 MB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake-H (2015−2016) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,408 | 8,402 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 658 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,973 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1585 v5 uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-3960X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1585 v5 | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1585 v5) / Yes (Core i7-3960X).
| Feature | Xeon E3-1585 v5 | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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